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Scope Groups

The guiding document of the Hampshire Student Union is Purpose, Values, and Scope. This document explains the why, how, and what of the Hampshire Student Union, including its specific purview of responsibility. This purview is referred to as HSU's "scope."

The five scope groups are the working committees of the HSU who are responsible for all work related to various segments of the scope areas to which they are assigned.

Academics

The Scope Group on Academics works to bring student thoughts, concerns, and suggestions about the academic program to the relevant academic committees. The group ensures that information is shared between students and the educational policy committee of the College, and works to inform all students about impending academic program changes.

Campus Budget and Policy

The Scope Group on Campus Budget and Policy serves in an advisory capacity to the administration of the College, meeting regularly and sharing information and ideas. The group is actively engaged in budget and policy issues that affect all parts of the College. Within this group's purview are the following responsibilities:

maintain regular meetings with the President, college administrators, and academic deans

consult with, offer creative ideas to, and support the work of admissions and communications regarding the promotion of the College

offer ideas to include a wide array of student work in the marketing of the College

consult with, offer creative ideas to, and support the work of College advancement

collaborate with existing bodies addressing issues of tuition, fees, and budgeting priorities (non-regulatory issues) by way of student representatives on the budget and priorities committee, and work to bring student input back to the committee

work with the office of finance and administration in an advisory capacity regarding the process and selection of contract services on campus, and provide a consistent feedback loop between students, contract services, and the College

Student Community

The Scope Group on Student Community is focused on identifying needs and responding to issues of diversity, representation, inclusion, and anti-bias education. The group is responsible for identifying student needs related to these issues and responding through collaborative programming, training, meetings, and specific action. The Scope Group on Student Community recieves guidance and input from community advocacy, the community advocacy union, and the office of diversity and multicultural education as they work to organize workshops and trainings on relevant anti-opression issues for all students. The group also supports and creates spaces for dialogue, including ongoing discussion and response, when significant incidents of concern occur on campus.

Student Experience

The Scope Group on Student Experience is responsible for articulating goals, identifying issues, and collaborating with the division of student life and the office of finance and administration to find solutions to address:

the residence life experience and work towards housing procedures that are efficient and effective while providing opportunities for student engagement in the houses

all dining services and ensuring that dining solutions best meet students' needs

health and safety on campus, including working with campus police, Hampshire College emergency medical services, Wellness Center, health and counseling services, facilities and grounds, and environmental health and safety

student spaces and physical infrastructure related to the improvement or maintenance of the grounds and communal spaces

student technological needsand the initiation of projects related to those needs

This scope group also serves as a central component of a collaborative process for supporting and vetting student-initiated projects of a non-academic and/or permanent nature, including directing students to funds and staff or faculty support as necsssary.

Student Leadership

The Scope Group on Student Leadership supports a wide array of student engagement at Hampshire by doing the following:

arranging and supporting student involvement with campus leadership and activities during the student group reconition process

taking active involvement in elections for student positions on the board of trustees and the board of trustees' committees, and working collaboratively with the secretary of the College in so doing

managing the election/appointment process for student representatives to College committees (outside of academic schools) and ad hoc task forces, in collaboration and in accordance with a given committee and its needs

working to achieve a high level of accountability of elected and appointed representatives by setting standards in coordination with the Committee of Ten

articulating a vision for student group success at Hampshire College, and, in collaboration with campus leadership and activities, and contributing to the support of groups to achieve that success